ABSTRACT
In recent years several issues have made the public aware that people and the society in which they live are exposed to numerous risks and that the way in which these risks are managed can affect their lives. Typical issues that have engendered such awareness include:
direct threats – from events such as those that took place in the US on 11 September 2001, malicious and criminal attacks on information technology systems, or potential acts of terrorism involving chemical or biological agents;
health and safety concerns – issues such as BSE, the combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), travel by rail, flooding, and unhealthy lifestyles leading to problems such as obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes;
risks to the environment – for example emissions causing climate change or pollution of the planet from the use of non-biodegradable products (plastics etc); and
ethical considerations – for example the transfer of risks to countries that may not have the institutional means or safety culture to handle them properly.
